Which drug may produce red-colored urine after its consumption?

Appeared in: UPPSC-2021

Explanation

Rifampicin is a first-line antibiotic used in the treatment of tuberculosis.
A well-known and harmless side effect of Rifampicin is the discoloration of body fluids to a red-orange color.
This includes urine, sweat, tears, and saliva.
The color change is due to the drug's own color and its metabolic byproducts being excreted from the body.
Patients should be educated that this is an expected and benign effect to prevent anxiety.

Option A: Isoniazid, another anti-TB drug, does not cause red urine. Its main toxicities are peripheral neuropathy and liver damage (hepatotoxicity).
Option C: Iron supplements are known to cause discoloration of feces, turning them black and tarry. They do not affect the color of urine.
Option D: Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor used for acid reflux and ulcers. It is not associated with causing red-colored urine.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Safe nursing care depends on performing Pharmacology: Drug Side Effects in the correct sequence, documenting the action clearly, and monitoring for the expected response.
Patient education is a key nursing responsibility. When administering Rifampicin, the nurse must inform the patient about the expected red-orange discoloration of body fluids to prevent alarm and ensure medication adherence.
Nurses should advise patients who wear soft contact lenses to switch to glasses during Rifampicin therapy, as the drug can permanently stain the lenses.
It is crucial to differentiate this harmless color change from hematuria (blood in the urine), which would indicate a pathological condition requiring investigation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is asking to identify a drug that specifically causes red-colored urine.
Review the options provided and recall the common side effect profiles for each drug.
Rifampicin is a classic, frequently tested drug known for causing red-orange discoloration of all body fluids. This should be a strong candidate.
Consider the other options to rule them out. Isoniazid is known for neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Iron is famous for causing black stools. Omeprazole is not known for this side effect.
Based on this process of elimination and direct recall, conclude that Rifampicin is the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology KD Tripathi Essentials 9e Part 3 p. 94-96

E6 Pharmacology Katzung 16e p. 1313-1315

Practise the full UPPSC-2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.